Stochastic effects

Stochastic effects occur by chance and can be compared to deterministic effects which result in a direct effect. Cancer induction and radiation induced hereditary effects are the two main examples of stochastic effects.

Models

Cancer induction as a result of exposure to radiation is thought by most to occur in a stochastic manner: there is no threshold point and the risk increases in proportionally with dose. Although the exact model which predicts the stochastic effects of radiation is contentious, numerous models do exist including:

linear-no threshold model: the risk of cancer induction increases linearly with no threshold dose (this is currently the accepted model by the International Commission on Radiological Protection) 5

adaptive-dose response model (hormesis): an adaptive dose-response relationship where low doses are protective and high doses are detrimental 4.

Although the risk increases with dose, the severity of the effects do not; the patient will either develop cancer or they will not.

Quiz questions

{"accessible":false,"alternatives":[{"id":3927,"text":"cataract"},{"id":3929,"text":"hair loss"},{"id":3931,"text":"skin erythema"},{"id":3928,"text":"solid tumour"},{"id":3930,"text":"sterility"}],"archived":false,"correctAlternativeId":3928,"explanation":"\u003cp\u003eStochastic effects occur by chance and can be compared to \u003ca href=\"https://radiopaedia.org/articles/deterministic-effects\"\u003edeterministic effects\u003c/a\u003e, which result in a direct effect. Cancer induction as a result of exposure to radiation is thought by most to occur in a stochastic manner. The remainder of the above adverse effects are considered to be deterministic effects.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAdapted from \u003ca href=\"https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Basic_Physics_of_Digital_Radiography\"\u003eBasic Physics of Digital Radiography\u003c/a\u003e by Kieran Maher, with author's permission (License: \u003ca href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/\"\u003eCreative Commons BY-SA 3.0\u003c/a\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e","id":774,"imageUrl":null,"nextQuestionPath":"/questions/774/next","relatedArticles":[{"id":5100,"title":"Deterministic effects","link":"/articles/deterministic-effects?lang=us"},{"id":52957,"title":"Radiation-induced carcinogenesis","link":"/articles/radiation-induced-carcinogenesis?lang=us"}],"stem":"\u003cp\u003eWhich of the following is considered a stochastic effect of ionizing radiation exposure? \u003c/p\u003e","articleId":"stochastic-effects","nextQuestionId":747,"containerId":"expandableQuestionsContainer"}